Cupola-charging bucket



June 9 1930- J. M. ROHLFING 1,762,797

CUPOLA CHARGING BUCKET FiledJune 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /TT'OR/VEY June 10, 1930. J. M. R OHLFING 1,762,797

* CUPOLA CHARGING BUCKET Filed June 1'7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 10, 1930 Nrrs PATENT m e J'oHN'M. ROHLFING, or PLAINIEIELD, NEW JERSEY, AssrenoR-Yro AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N; Y., A oosroaa'rron or NEW JERSEY oUroLA-oHARGING BUCKET Application filed June 17, 1929. Serial No. 371,429. I

This invention relates to material handllng devices and has particular reference to a charging device for cupola. furnaces.

One ob ect of the present invention is the provislon of a bucket for charging cupolasa Another object of the inventionis the provision of a cupola charging bucket which,

when the doors are unlocked, will provide a full opening without obstruction to the-flow of material. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a c'upola charging bucket in which internal door holding links are eliminated.

.The invention also contemplates the provision of a mechanism in which the bucket per seis, in effect, independent of the operating means for openin the doors and yet is not entirely detached utwill, due to the fact that its weight is greater than the Weight I A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hoisting bucketwith dropbottom doors connected thereto to close the open lower end thereof, or the discharge opening; said doors being connected to the bucket in such amanner as to swing entirely clear of thebucket to permit an unobstructed discharge of the material carried by the bucket. J p

' A still further objectof the invention is the provision of a charging device for cupola furnaces including a bucket, in which the weight of the. latter is utilized to returnthe drop-bottom doors thereof to partially closed position.

As another object, the invention. contemplates the provision of locking means for the doors of a cupola charging bucket, which locking means are entirely independent of I the door; actuating mechanism.

7 Another object of the lnvention is the provision of a cupola charging bucket which is formed of few parts and 'which'is strong and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the follow;- ing description taken in conjunction .with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the device of the present invention, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig; 2 is an end elevation of the device, certain parts being shown in section; Fig. '3 is a partial-top plan View of the bucket of the present invention, showing also, in plan, one of the bucket hangers;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4;,

Fig. 1;

shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View of the bucket and its bail, certain parts being shown in section; the view also showing in broken lines the doors in partly open position; 1

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview of a portion of the device, one of the doors being shown in fully open position; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional viewon the of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, ,in which similar characters of referencedesignate similar parts inthe several views, the material handling-device of the present invention comprises generally a bucket A, bucket hangers B, bail C, doors I) and door hinge links E.

line 8-8 As can be clearly seen in'the drawings,

the; bucket A is formed offiangedside and end wallsQ and A respectively, theflanges '6 of which are adj acently' arranged and con- 7 which, when the side and end walls are 7 so connected, are alined, as shown, clearly in Fig. 2. The side walls 2 are of the form shown clearly in Fig. 3, having the side edges thereof curved as shown at 12. Secured to said side edges 12 are fulcrum lugs 14 having elongated openings 15 in which a shaft 16 is mounted, the latter being restrainedagainst horizontal shifting by suit able means such as the pins 18. The shaft 16 serves to mount a fulcrum barrel 20 which is a part of the bucket hanger B.

The'description herewith pertains to one end of the bucket, but it is to be understood that the construction is duplicated on the other end of the bucket and a description of one end (Figs 2 and 3, for example) will suffice for both.

The bucket hanger B also includes the spaced arms 22, preferably formed integral with the barrel 20, and which arms extend upwardly and have secured to the upper end such as by welding.

side pieces.

thereof by a bolt 24 and by keys 25 (see Fig. 8), a hook 26. The shank of the hook extends between the upper ends of the arms 22 and is provided with a lifting head 29 to'take the load, as will be apparent. The hooks 26 at each end of the bucket are suspended fromlinks 28 which are pivotally connected as at 30 to the lower ends of lifting cables 32. To permit suspension of the hangers B, the links 28 are provided with elongated openings 34 into which the hooks 26 may be readily inserted. The'links 28 are pivotally connected to the bail C, as

presently to be described.

' The particular construction of the bail is shown more clearly in Figs 4 and 5', where it can be seen that the same comprises the spaced side pieces 36 which are connected to'end spacers 88 by any suitable means,

The links 28 are arranged between the pieces 36 and are pivotally connected thereto by the pins 40. Se-

blocks-46 are secured which serve'as guides for a weight 48, as Wlll be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 4. The weight 48 is suspended by a weight lifting cable 50 by means of a pivot joint 52, and adjacent the lower end of the weight lugs 54 are provided which are adapted to contact with abutments 56 secured between the side pieces 36 and adjacent thespacers 44 whereby to limitthe upward movement of the weight 48, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

'The links 28, heretofore described, are

connected to the weight 48 by means of a toggle comprising the arms 58 pivoted to the lower end of theweight at 60 and to the links 28 at 61. It can be seen at this point that, when the weight 48 is lifted by means of the cable 50-, the arms 58 will pull the hangers B toward each other (see Figs. 6 and 7) thereby rotating or rocking the barrel 20 on the shaft 16, andwhen tension on the cable 50 is released the weight 48 will drop thus restoring the toggle to its normal position and returning the links 28 (and hence the hangers B) to their normal position, such as shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the barrel 20 is provided with several depending arms 62 at the lower ends of which are formed hinge lugs 64 engaged with a hinge shaft 66, which latter is supported in lugs 68 formed at the rear edge of the door D; the latter (door D) comprising the web 70 and the depend ing reinforcing ribs 72, as shown in Fig. 6. The rear edges of the doors D are also provided with fulcrum lugs 74 each arranged adjacent one of the lugs 68, and these lugs 74 with their adjacent lugs 68 each support a pin 76 to which the lower ends of raising links 78 are connected- The links 78 extend upwardly adjacent the end walls of the bucket and their upper ends are connected to the bucket through the medium of pins 80 arranged in elongated openings 82 formed in lugs 84. v

Each door D is provided with locking lugs 86 which extend beyond the limits of the door and are so arranged as to be engaged by external hooks '88 pivoted on pins 90 carried by the side walls of the bucket, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Two such hooks or latches 88 are provided at each side of the bucket, as will be obvious, and they are normally urged away from each other; orto be more exact, to door supporting position by a spring 92 arranged therebetween. In practice, the hooks are preferably contained in a housing formed by a flange 94 integral with the side wall and having oppositely arranged stops 96 for positioning the hooks (see Fig. 1). For completing the housing, a cover plate 98 is provided which is secured to the flange 94 by screw bolts 100. For supporting the hooks within the housing just described, it has been found practical to support the pins 90 not only by the side wall but also by the cover plate 98, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

From the above description, it is believed that the operation of the device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, but a brief resume thereof is given herewith.

Figure 1 shows the device in normal position with the doors D held closed by the hooks or latches 88. Let us assume that it will rock or rotate the fulcrum barrel 20.

on the shaft 16 and transmit movement to the hinge lugs 64. This movement just described will result in a pivoting or swinging of the hanger B, pulling the hinge lugs 64L outwardly, or in other words, forcing the hinge lugs (i l away from each other and shifting the doors transversely of the discharge opening; the doors thus being pulled away from each other and away from their supported connection with the latches 88. It can be seen here that no movement of the hooks takes place during this operation. When the lugs 86 have been freed from their engagement with the latches 88, it will be apparent that the doors will swing downwardly by gravity in the absence of any load in the bucket. Of course, with a load in the bucket the'downward movement of the doors D is accelerated and, as the doors drop, the load immediately drops from the bucket and the impact of the load against the doors forces the doors to the position shown inv Fig. 7. As the doors approach the position shown in'Fig. 7, due to the im pact of the load thereagainst the doors rotate about'the shaft 66, this rotation'forcing the pins 76 and their lugs in an arc upwardly, thus forcing the raising links 78upwardly in the openings 82; this motion continuing andurging or forcing the bucket A upwardly with respect to the hangers B, as shown in Fig. 7 'After the load has been discharged and the impact or weight thereof is not against the doors D, the weight of the bucket becomes effective then to return the doors to partially closed position. The doors being much lighter in weight than the bucket, they will not offer suiiicient resistance through the raising links 78 to maintain the bucket in the ele-' vated position shown in Fig. 7 and the extra weight of the bucket therefore will force the pins downwardly and thus urge the doors to the. position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6; or in other words, the downward motion of the bucket will partially close the doors D. i i

The cable 50 is only actuated to break the toggle connection, as will be apparent, and the pull on the cable 50 having been released, when the operator lowers the bucket to the floor the doors D will be forced toward their closed and locked position and the has been discharged.

links 28 will be forced to their normal position (due to the lowering of the weight 48) thereby shifting'the hangers B to the normal position shown in Fig. 1 and urging-the doors transversely so that the lugs 86 may be engaged with. the latches 88. i

The drawings herein illustrate one embodiment' of the present invention, but it is to be understood that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and that various changes in the form and proportions of the device may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: I 1. In a cupola charging'bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing said opening and adapted to open by gravity and-to be automatically partially closed by the weight of the bucket.

2. In a cup'ola charging bucket having a discharge opening, horizontally shiftable doors hingedly connected with the bucket and adapted to swing to open position by gravity, and means for utilizing the weight.

of the bucket for returning the doors to partially closed position comprising means connecting the bucket and doors.

3. A bucket having a discharge opening,- a I door .for the discharge opening, means for operating the door to discharge the bucket,-

means for supporting the bucket for substantially vertical movement relative to the supporting means, and means foriutilizing some of the energy of the descending charge against the bucket to elevate the latter'and" to be actuated by the bucket after the load 1 '5. A cupola charging 7 14.0 v for raising the bucket relative to the supporting means.

lie

charge opening, doors normally'clo'sing said opening and mounted to swingto partially open position by gravity and to fullyopen position under impact of the load beingdischarged, and actuating elements connecting the bucket and doors to be operated by the doors under the impact of the load being dis- 1 charged and to be actuated by the bucket after the load has been discharged to return the-doors to partially closed position.

6. A cupola'charging bucket having a discharge opening, horizontally shiftable doors I hingedly connected with the bucket and nor- ,mally closing the discharge opening, said 7 doors being adapted to open by gravity and to be urged to closed position by the weight of the bucket.

7. In a cupola .charging bucket, hangers pivotally secured thereto for supporting said bucket, doors pivotally secured to the hangers, means for retaining the doors in closed position, and means connecting the hangers for actuating the latter on their pivots to free the doors from their retaining means.

8. In a cupola charging bucket, hangers pivot-ally secured thereto for supporting said bucket doors oivotall secured to the ban ers means tor retainin the doors in closed position, and means connectlng the hangers for actuating the latter on their pivots to shift the doors transversely away from each other, to free the doors from their retaining means to permit them to shift on their pivots.

.9. A bucket having a discharge opening, a door for the discharge opening, a pivotal mounting for the door, retaining means with which the door is engaged for holding the door in closed position, and a toggle mechanism for moving the door transversely of the opening to free the latterfrom the retaining means to permitthe door to swing open by gravity.

10. The combination with a bucket having a discharge opening, of a pivotal support for said bucket, a door for the discharge opening pivotally connected to the pivotal support and arranged to swing to open position by gravity, a slidable connection between the pivotal support and the bucket,

and means operable upon swinging movement of the door for moving the bucket with respect to said pivotal mounting.

11. A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing the opening, supporting means for the bucket connected to the latter, said doors being pivotally connected to said supporting means, and means for shifting the sup porting means whereby to actuate the doors transversely of the discharge opening to permit said doors to swing on their pivots.

12.In a device of the kind described, a bucket having an open lower end, doors normally closing the open end, supporting means for the bucket pivotally connected to the latter, hinge means connecting the doors with said supporting means, links connecting the doors and bucket, and

7 means for shifting the supporting means on their pivots to actuate the doors horizontally whereby they may swing on their pivots to-uncover the open ends and actuate the links to raise the bucket relative to the supporting means[ 13. A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normallyclosing said opening, and means for supporting the doors comprising bucket supporting hangers pivoted to the bucket and hingedly condoors in closed position, said hangers being shiftable on their pivots to move the doors horizontally of the discharge opening to free the same from their retaining means and to dispose the hinge connection outside the discharge opening whereby the doors will swing clear of the discharge opening. 7

14. A material handling device of the kind described comprising a bucket having drop-bottom doors, hangers for the bucket to which the doors are hingedly connected, a bail, hoisting links connected to the bail and to which the hangers are secured, a toggle connecting the links, and means for actuating the toggle to move the hangers simultaneously whereby to shift the doors horizontally.

15. A material handling device of the kind described comprising a bucket, dropbottom doors for the bucket, hangers for the bucket connected to the doors, latches for holding the doors in closed position, said hangers being shiftable whereby to actuate the doors horizontally to free the latter from the latches. I

16. A material handling device of the kind described comprising a bucket, dropbottom doors for the bucket, hangers for the bucket pivotally connected to the doors, latches for holding the doors in closed position, and means for shifting the hangers on their pivots whereby to actuate the doors to free the latter from their latches.

17. A bucket having a discharge opening,

means for supporting the bucket for suba lever, means cooperating with the bucket V to provide a movable fulcrum for the lever,

the movable fulcrum being arranged to support the bucket from the lever for substantially vertical movement relative to the latter, a door for the discharge opening pivotally mounted on an arm of the lever, means secured to the bucket for normally holding the door in closed position, means for operating the lever to move the door transversely of the discharge opening to free the same from its connection with the door holding means whereby the door may swing on its pivotal mounting to open position, and means responsive to the swing of the door for raising the bucket substantially vertically relative to the lever.

19. A bucket having a discharge opening, a lever, means cooperating with the bucket to provide a movable fulcrum for the lever, the movable fulcrum being arranged to support the bucket from the lever for substantially vertical movement relative to the lever, a door normally closing the discharge opening and pivotally mounted on an arm of the lever, an arm on the door projecting stantially vertically relative to said lever.

20. In a bucket of the kind described, hangers pivotally secured to the bucket for supporting the latter, bottom doors pivotally secured to the hangers, and supporting means for retaining the doors in closed position, said doors being horizontally shiftable upon pivotal movement of the -hangers, whereby to free them from the supporting means.

21. -A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing the opening, supporting means for the bucket connected to the latter, said doors being pivotally connected to said supporting means, and means for shifting the supporting means whereby to actuate the 'doors transversely of the discharge opening to permit said doors to swing on their pivots entirely free of the door opening.

22. A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing said'opening and mounted to swing to partially open position by gravity and to fully open position under impactof the load being discharged, and bucket actuating elements.

connecting the bucket and doors. V

23. A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing said opening and mountedto-swing to partially open position by' gravity and to an open position outside of the door opening under impact of the load being discharged, and bucket actuating elements connecting the bucket and doors. I 1

24. A cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors normally closing said opening and mounted to swingv tov partially open position by gravity and to an open position outside the plane ofthe door opening under impact of the load being dis charged, and actuating elements pivotally secured to the doors and pivotally and slidably connected to the bucket 'for exerting a thrust against the bucket when the doors approach fully open position under impact of the load being discharged, whereby whenimpact against the doors is relieved upon complete discharge from the bucket, the Weight of'the bucket will force the doors to partially closed position.

,25."A' device of the kind described, comprising, a bucket having a discharge openlatter relative to the supporting -means,

whereby some of the energy imparted to the doors by the descending load from the bucket may be utilized for raising the latter to permit descent of the bucket relative to the supporting means for partially closing the doors. 7

26. A bucket having a discharge opening,

supporting elements for the bucket connected thereto by a slidable connection to permit substantially a vertical movement of the bucket relative to the supporting means, a door for the discharge'opening, and slidable conections between the door and bucket effective only as the door approaches its fully open position for raising the bucket relative to the supporting means.

27 A cupola charging bucket having a lower open end, doors normally closing said open end, and means for supporting the doors comprising bucket supporting hangers pivoted to the bucket and hingedly connecte ed to the doors, said hangers being shiftable on their pivots to move the doors horizontally V to dispose the hinge connection outside the discharge opening, whereby the doors will swing'clear of the discharge opening. 7

28. A cupola charging bucket having .a discharge opening, doors for said opening, latches normally retaining the doors in closed position, hangers pivotally secured to the bucket for supporting the latter, said hangers being hingedly connected to the doors, and means for shifting the hangers on their pivots to free the doors from the latches and to place the hinged connection of the doors outside the discharge opening,

whereby to permit the doors to swing entirelyclear of the discharge opening. 7

29.111 acupola charging buckethavinga discharge] opening, horizontally .shiftable doors hingedly connected with the bucket and adapted for horizontal shifting to swing to I I open position by gravity,and,means for utilizing the weight ,of the bucket forreturning the doors to partially closed position,

comprising rigid elements pivotally secured to the doors and pivotally and slidably-con- I nected tothe bucket. I

30. In a cupola-charging bucket having "a discharge opening, doors hingedly connected 7 with the bucket and adapted to'swing on:

their hinges to'open position by gravity said doors being-horizontally shiftable iii substantially a straight line prior to their swinging movement.

31. In a cupola charging bucket having a discharge opening, doors hingedly connected with the bucket and adapted to swing on their" hinges to open position by gravity, said doors being horizontally shiftable in substantially a straight line prior to their swinging movement, and means for utilizing the welght of the bucket for returning the doors to partially closed position, comprising means connecting the bucket and doors.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN M. ROHLFING. 

